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Hi folks and especially Victorian folks..
Vic paramedics are currently fighting our stupid management and state government.
Heres a great article which it would be great if you could read.
If you cant be bothered though, fair enough; and perhaps you could just go to http://www.change.org/petitions/value-our-ambos? and sign the petition... Thanks!
Victoria, it’s your Ambulance Service
Victorians. The lifeblood of your ambulance service, that being your Paramedics, need your help and your support.
We are currently battling the government, and it would seem our own employer, for better wages and conditions. Apparently this bitter dispute that is the bane of public sector workers every 3 years is referred to as “negotiations”. Other states earn up to approximately $25,000 a year more than we do (same job). Many may ask “why should this concern me?” Well, chances are that at some point in your life, probably when you least expect it, you or a loved one will suddenly find that you are dialling 000 in a frantic state of panic. The Paramedics ability to clinically perform for you or your loved one, as well as how quickly they arrive depends on a variety of factors:
1. The experience of the Paramedic crew
Paramedic wages (currently $56,000 base salary per year at year 6 and goes no further) have become unsustainable for most experienced paramedics to live off primarily due to a rising cost of living that we all have to deal with in Victoria, as well as a government wages policy of 2.5% plus productivity only that has existed for approximately a decade. Hence wages have fallen well behind other industries and other paramedic wages across the country. As a result many, approximately 2/3, are seeking to find alternative employment over the next 3 to 5 years (taken from a staff survey conducted recently). This will mean a loss of invaluable experience for Victorians, experience which may mean the difference in detecting a clinical problem in you or your loved one only recognisable from years of experience in the job (despite rigorous pre employment education and study). The only way to rectify this is for the government to recognise that we need an increase in wages that matches our better paid interstate colleagues in order to retain staff and experience to ensure the best quality of care possible for Victorians.
2. The availability of an ambulance in your area
Resources are now scarce. That is the reality. If a major incident occurred in Victoria the ambulance service would not be able to respond an adequate amount of resources in a timely manner, which could ultimately cost lives. Resources are scarce for a few reasons;
1. Lack of government funding and foresight (but what’s new there).
2. Ambulances are being sent to jobs via an outsourced call taking and dispatch system calling the shots based on a computer program (introduced over the past few years) that commonly see ambulances respond to non urgent cases that could easily be referred to GP’s or other health and welfare alternatives, resulting in crews being pressured into taking patients with non life threatening issues to the Emergency Department where they wait and wait and remain unavailable. This is ‘Ramping’.
3. Finally, Paramedics are not immune to the ill affects the onerous shift work has on their bodies, and take sick leave to protect themselves and patients. This can leave shifts going unfilled as overtime rates have decreased over the past several years and many paramedics not working (those few who do not have other responsibilities or willing to sacrifice some semblance of normality outside of work) and asked to fill in do not see the extra money as adequate compensation for yet another shift (says alot really in my opinion).
These overtime shifts that go unfilled for the above stated reason would more likely be filled with a decent wage that properly rewards those paramedics available to fill in for the sick and injured ones, improving resource availability and the chances that you will get an amublance sooner rather than much, much later.
3. How well rested and fed the Paramedics are
Due to the increase in demand for services and other factors already mentioned above, regular meal and rest breaks are becoming a distant memory for paramedics. It has been stated many times here on this blog that paramedics can go up to 8 – 10 hours on a 14 hour shift without food or rest, sometimes a whole shift. I have seen over the past few years sleep on night shifts become non existent (where once I may have had 2 or 3 hours during week day nights). Not ideal if you are needing paramedics for you or a loved one. Try performing in your own work duties after 8 hours without a rest break and a meal and you will quickly find that you are unable to think very well or concentrate. Paramedics are not robots, we are as human as everybody else, and our minds and bodies are just as limited.
This issue has been raised time and time again by paramedics to Ambulance Victoria and the government, yet the workloads continue to rise and paramedics become sick and fatigued, and unable to attend their next shift leaving a resource unattended. In fact, Ambulance Victoria has suggested a policy be introduced that would see our meal and rest breaks even harder to come by.
So when the time comes for you to call 000 in need of an ambulance, how would you like your Paramedics to perform?
Would you be comfortable and well satisfied knowing that the paramedics have a blood sugar level so low that if found on a patient they would be treated for it (this happens)?
Would you be happy that an ambulance may get to you in 20 minutes if you are lucky as nobody wants to fill in for sick and injured paramedics, hence affecting resources?
Do you accept that ambulances may not get to you in time because the dispatch system has classified another non urgent job as more urgent than your emergency?
Do you accept that experienced paramedics in this state (those able to pass on knowledge to newer paramedics and best able to help you) are seeking alternative employment thanks to a wage that goes nowhere near financially compensating the work or hours involved?
We need Victorians help and support. We are burning out fast and are hindered by the very system we work for in many ways. It’s your Ambulance Service. We will fight for ourselves and for all of you, but we need any support anyone is able to provide. Some may read this blog as say it is just another whinging public sector employee dissatisfied with their lot in life. Well, that’s fine, but it’s all of our lives that this issue effects, not just mine or my fellow paramedics, but all Victorians. The treatment of paramedics in this state by the government and the paramedics employer is putting your lives at risk as well as mine and my families, and I will not stand for it and neither should anyone else.
Write to the Premier.
Sign the petition online at: www.change.org/petitions/value-our-ambos?
Demand answers from your local members.
Comment on this blog and ask questions. It’s your service.
Otherwise when you need us in the future, it will be too late. For the government to deny paramedics in this state fair wages that reflect their worth and value and see them even with other states, and by not paying paramedics enough to support their families now and in the future, reduces the quality of your ambulance service and your paramedics ability to perform at their ultimate. The continued lack of funds and government support needed to rectify other issues that impact on our ability to care for all Victorians (overwhelmed by non urgent cases, inadequate rest and meal breaks, etc) can no longer be ignored, and requires the people of this state to take a stand and tell this government that enough is enough.
Victorians, you deserve better than this. Help us to help you.
Done even though I am not in Vic if this goes National that would be bad.
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